Skewed rotor designs for hybrid homopolar electrical machines

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar generator comprising. The method includes aligning inductor poles within an axial front segment of a rotor, with corresponding magnets within an axial back segment of the rotor. The method also includes moving, during assembly, the axial front segment and the axial back segment relative to each other such that inductor poles in the axial front segment and the axial back segment form a pattern.

I. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to electrical machines. In particular, the present disclosure relates to reducing flux harmonics between a rotor and a stator in a hybrid homopolar (HHP) electrical machine.

II. BACKGROUND

HHP electrical machines, are adaptable for use in avionics generally, and aircraft engines in particular. These generators, which represent an integration of traditional electrical power generation techniques, are typically lighter and more efficient than conventional generators, thus making them suitable for use in the avionics industry.

A HHP generator is an embellishment of a type of machine referred to in the art as a homopolar inductor alternator. In homopolar inductor alternators, a direct current (DC) excitation field coil and alternating current (AC) armature coils are situated in the stator. The armature coils must be linked with alternating flux, obtained by magnetic reluctance variations embodied in the rotor structure.

As a practical matter, a typical HHP stator assembly includes two (split) stator halves aligned axially, corresponding to respective axially aligned rotor sections. The unidirectional field coil is situated between the two stator halves. The reluctance variations embodied in the rotor act upon the unidirectional flux produced by the field coil to produce an alternating flux seen by the armature coils. As understood in the art, the term hybrid implies inclusion of magnets in the rotor. The nature of the magnet approach will also produce an alternating flux seen by the armature coils.

A major challenge of conventional HHP generators is stator tooth flux ripple: an effect causing armature voltage variations that interact with the armature load, the armature winding, and with the rotor. One consequence of this interaction is a creation of flux harmonic losses on the rotor, in particular on the rotor sleeve. These harmonic losses can impose a pulsating force on the rotor, causing the rotor to overheat. These losses are described in greater detail below in terms of ideal voltage and torque waveforms.

Rotor loss reduction, in pursuit of an ideal voltage waveform, and slot-order space harmonic reduction, to achieve an ideal torque waveform, are major technical challenges associated with the design and manufacture of HHP electric machines. The effects of rotor losses and slot-order space harmonics can significantly complicate the HHP electric machine design, resulting in more expensive and more complicated stator stacks, or the need of additional filter elements.

For example, the split stator design of the HHP electric machine, noted above, typically has the two stator halves aligned axially. Rotationally offsetting the two stator halves by one half of a stator slot pitch will decouple the stator slot-order harmonic flux. This approach, however, will still impart a dynamic axial load at the slot-order frequency, in addition to compounding the difficulty of the insertion of the armature winding.

III. SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for reducing, or eliminating, coupling of flux harmonics between the rotor and stator of a HHP. In particular, various embodiments provide a helical skew, for example, of one full stator slot pitch in opposite directions in each of the stator or rotor sections, respectively. Such an exemplary technique can eliminate axial force components, reducing the expense and complication of stator stack designs.

In one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar generator. The method includes aligning magnets within an axial front segment of a rotor, with corresponding magnets within an axial back segment of the rotor. The method also includes moving, during assembly, the axial front segment and the axial back segment relative to each other such that magnets in the axial front segment and the axial back segment form a pattern.

The illustrious embodiments provide significant technical advantages over conventional approaches. For example, in the embodiments a major component of rotor losses is significantly reduced. The opposite skew directions between the stator opposite a north rotor section and the stator opposite a south rotor section nearly completely decouple the harmonics noted above. Stators designed in accordance with this approach can enable achieving output voltage requirements and other typical specification limits for resulting AC waveform quality. This AC waveform quality can be achieved without adding additional filter elements. The axially split stator construction of the HHP provides a solution to rotor-stator flux decoupling not normally easily attainable.

Additional features, modes of operations, advantages, and other aspects of various embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are presented for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments, or modifications of the embodiments disclosed, will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings provided.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments may take form in various components and arrangements of components. Illustrative embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference numerals may indicate corresponding or similar parts in the various drawings. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of the present disclosure should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s).

FIG. 1 illustrates a hybrid homopolar (HHP) electric generator constructed in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a stator assembly used in the HHP electric generator depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates more detailed aspects of an exemplary rotor assembly depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary stator assembly of an HHP electric generator, implementing skewing in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary herringbone pattern implemented in various aspects described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary rotor assembly of an HHP electric generator, implementing skewing in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 7A is an exemplary method of implementing skewing in a stator in accordance with the various aspects.

FIG. 7B is an exemplary method of implementing skewing in a rotor in accordance with the various aspects.

FIG. 8A is an example illustration of a graph of a desirable armature voltage waveform produced by a rotor rotation in an HHP electric machine, in accordance with various aspects described herein.

FIG. 8B is an example illustration of a graph of an actual armature voltage waveform produced by rotor rotation in typical HHP electric machines.

FIG. 9A is an example illustration of a graph depicting an ideal torque waveform produced by rotor and stator interaction during operation of an HHP electric machine, constructed in accordance with the various aspects described herein.

FIG. 9B is an example illustration of a graph depicting harmonic distortions in a torque waveform produced by rotor and stator interaction during operation of typical HHP electric machines.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the illustrative embodiments are described herein for particular applications, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art and with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present disclosure would be of significant utility.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary hybrid homopolar (HHP) electric generator 100 constructed in accordance with various aspects described herein. The generator 100 includes a stator yoke 102 for holding armature coils 103 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial stator assembly (i.e. stator) 200, including substantially identical stator stacks 200 a and 200 b having the armature coils 103 inserted into the stator 200.

Returning to FIG. 1, the generator 100 also includes magnets 104, and a rotor 105 formed of several integrated components, discussed more fully below. For exemplary magnets 104 can be formed of samarium cobalt. Additionally or alternatively, however, the magnets can be constructed of other suitable materials.

The rotor 105 includes a rotor shaft 106, representing an axis (A) around which major components of the rotor 105 rotate. A rotor hub 108 is positioned against the rotor shaft 106. A rotor sleeve 110 is provided as a centrifugal restraint, positioning the magnets 104 in place. A field coil 112, for producing an electromagnetic field, is provided affixed to the stator 200. The field coil 112 is circumferentially wound into a space in between stator stacks 200 a and 200 b. By way of background, the field coils being affixed to the rotors, in conventional synchronous electric machines, contribute to difficulty in balancing the rotors. Along with creation of heat by the field coils, having the field coils attached to the rotor makes conventional synchronous electric machines generally more challenging to design and construct.

The HHP electric generator 100 also includes a stator core 114. The stator core 114 conducts flux, produced by the armature winding 103 and the field coil 112, around the rotor 105 and the stator 200. Inductor poles 116 further enhance the conduction of the flux produced by the field coil 112, around the armature winding 103, the stator core 114, stator yoke 102, and the rotor hub 108. As the rotor 105 rotates, the peripherally segmented nature of the inductor poles 116 imparts essential alternating flux variation to the armature winding 103 from the unidirectional nature of flux produced from the field coil 112. The exemplary inductor poles 116, depicted in FIG. 1, can be constructed of laminated silicon steel.

FIG. 3 provides a more detailed illustration of the rotor 105, including the inductor poles 116. Additionally, as the rotor 105 rotates, the peripherally segmented nature of the magnets 104 imparts essential alternating flux variation to the armature winding 103. The alternating flux produced from the field coil 112 and inductor poles 116 can add or subtract to the alternating flux produced from the magnets 104. This adding or subtracting occurs according to the direction and magnitude of the direct current (DC) current supplied to the field coil 112.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary stator assembly 400 for an HHP electric generator, implementing skewing in accordance with various aspects described herein. The stator assembly 400 includes an axial front stator 401, an axial back stator 402, and stator teeth 403. More specifically, FIG. 4 is an illustration of skewing implemented in the stator 400 in accordance with the various aspects. The under-laying computer-aided design (CAD) illustration of FIG. 4 is that of un-skewed stators. The superimposed dotted lines illustrate how all edges are to be transformed into the skewing embodiment, described herein.

The axial front stator 401 includes a front edge 401 a and a back edge 401 b. Similarly, the axial back stator 402 includes a front edge 402 a and a back edge 402 b. Skewing functionality is implemented by transforming the respective front and back stators 401 and 402 to form a skew pattern 404 (see FIG. 5), generally resembling a herringbone. FIG. 5 illustrates a generic herringbone pattern 500.

By way of background, and as understood by those of skill in the art, the rotor 105 rotates inside of the stator 200. The rotor 105 is rotated by a mechanical power source, such as from gearing from an aircraft engine. Electric currents in the armature winding 103 react with the magnetic fields produced by the rotor 105 (inductor poles 116 interacting with the field coil 112, and the magnets 104), to provide electrical power to an electrical load. In a conventional HHP electric generator, the magnetic field produced by the armature winding 103 rotates in a manner to maintain alignment with the magnetic field produced by the rotor 105.

As a consequence torque ripple, discussed more fully below, the rotor 105 actually turns in a non-uniform motion, having superimposed small steps or jerks. By building the rotor 105, or the stator 200, with a twist (i.e., skewing the design), the magnets 104 and inductor poles 116 (or edges of teeth in the stator 200) are twisted around the rotor shaft 106. This skewing causes a reciprocal effect of the magnetic field, cancelling the torque ripple, ultimately resulting in smoother rotation of the rotor 105 and more efficient operation of the HHP electric generator 100. FIG. 4 illustrates this skewing process in a stator assembly 400, in accordance with an embodiment.

In FIG. 4, an un-skewed trajectory edge 406 a (dotted line) is shown with reference to a stator tooth 403 a (of teeth 403) of the stator 400. By way of example, the edge 406 a can be peripherally shifted during assembly, such as during the lamination stacking process. During this skewing, or shifting process, the edge 406 a travels to form a shifted edge 406 b at a skew angle (θ) 412. Arrows indicate movement of the un-skewed edge 406 a forming the skewed edge 406 b.

Skewing is implemented across all of the stator teeth 403 for respective front and back stators 401 and 402, to form a herringbone pattern at bracket 404. See FIG. 5, depicting a more detailed illustration of a herringbone pattern 500. In FIG. 4, the bracket 404 depicts example skews 414 and 416 associated with outer surfaces of the stator stacks 401 and 402. The amount (degree) of skewing is a function of a the number of teeth 403 of the stators 401 and 402 in the stator assembly 400.

FIG. 5, for purposes of illustration, depict skews 414 and 416 superimposed over the generic herringbone pattern 500. Following a pattern resembling the herringbone pattern 500 enables the armature winding 103 to be more easily assembled while implementing the skew functionality.

Returning to FIG. 4, the skew of the axial front stator 401 is shifted clockwise to form the exemplary skew 414. The skew of the axial back stator 402 is shifted counterclockwise to form the exemplary skew 416. In practice, to implement skewing, the front stator 401 is twisted in a substantially clockwise direction and the back stator 402 is twisted in a substantially counterclockwise direction.

The twisting occurs as a function of the slot-pitch dimension 413 of the stator teeth 403 such that the axial front stator 401, the twisting travels clockwise one slot-pitch dimension going from front edge 401 a to a back edge 401 b. Likewise, in the axial back stator 402, the twisting travels counter-clockwise one slot-pitch dimension going from a front edge 402 a to a back edge 402 b. For facilitating insertion of the armature winding 103, edges of the teeth 403 located at the back edge 401 b should peripherally align with edges located at the front edge 402 a, of corresponding teeth, across an inter-stack space 417.

As the assembly continues, the armature winding 103 is inserted beginning at the back edge 401 b of the axial front stator 401 (clockwise) to the front edge 402 a of the axial back stator 402 (counterclockwise). During this process, slot openings, such as slot openings 418 a and 418 b at respective edge 401 b and 402 a, are desirably aligned as depicted along alignment line (L) of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6. illustrates an exemplary rotor assembly 600 for an HHP electric generator implementing skewing in accordance with various aspects described herein. In the embodiments, skewing can be implemented in HHP electric generators in a stator assembly, or in a rotor assembly.

The rotor 600 includes inductor poles 602 a/602 b alternating with magnets 604 a/604 b. The rotor 600 also includes an axial front rotor 606 and an axial back rotor 608, with an inter-rotor space 617 in between. Similar to the construction of the stator 400, the axial front rotor 606 includes a front edge 606 a and a back edge 606 b. The axial back rotor 608 includes a front edge 608 a and a back edge 608 b.

The exemplary rotor 600 skews rotor inductor poles, such as the inductor poles 602 a, one slot pitch 610 over an axial length 605 a of the front rotor 606. Correspondingly, the inductor poles 602 b is skewed one slot pitch 610 over an axial length 605 b of the axial back rotor 608. Arrows indicate movement of an un-skewed edge 612 a forming a skewed edge 612 b in the inductor pole 602 a of the axial front rotor 606. A skewed edge 614 is depicted in the inductor pole 602 b of the axial back rotor 608. The skewing of inductor poles in the axial front rotor 606 relative to the axial back rotor 608 occurs in a pattern, similar to skewing in the stator assembly 400, discussed above. This pattern can also resemble the herringbone pattern 500 of FIG. 5.

In the rotor 600, skewing is implemented with a clockwise twist travelling the one slot pitch 610 from front edge 606 a to back edge 606 b of the axial front rotor 606. In the axial back rotor 608, skewing is implemented with a counter-clockwise twist travelling one slot-pitch 610 from front edge 608 a to back edge 608 b.

Skewing, as described herein, can be implemented in concert with optimization of inductor poles arcs (not shown) and stator slot opening size. Skewing can also be implemented with holes for flux shaping in laminations at the edges 606 a/b and 608 a/b of respective inductor poles 602 a and 602 b, and in shaping of inductor poles faces and/or bridges, in embodiments utilizing embedded inductor poles designs. In an alternative embodiment, each axial front rotor and axial back rotor can be fabricated in two identical sections then assembled such that the sections are rotated by one-half slot pitch. When the axial front rotor and axial back rotor are aligned, the two most innermost sections desirably have the same rotation direction.

FIG. 7A is an exemplary method 700 of practicing an embodiment of the present disclosure for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar electric machine, the machine including a stator. The method 700 includes aligning slots within an axial front segment of the stator with corresponding slots within an axial back segment of the stator in block 702. The method also includes twisting the axial front segment in a substantially clockwise direction by a predetermined amount and twisting the axial back segment in a substantially counterclockwise direction by the predetermined amount, as depicted in block 704. The twisting forms a pattern in respective components of the axial front segment and the axial back segment, as depicted in block 706.

FIG. 7B is an exemplary method 708 of practicing an embodiment of the present disclosure for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar electric machine, the machine including a rotor. The method 708 includes aligning inductor poles within an axial front segment of the rotor with corresponding inductor poles within an axial back segment of the rotor in block 710. The method also includes twisting the axial front segment in a substantially clockwise direction by a predetermined amount and twisting the axial back segment in a substantially counterclockwise direction by the predetermined amount, as depicted in block 712. The twisting forms a pattern in respective components of the axial front segment and the axial back segment, as depicted in block 714.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B graphically depict performance improvements provided by the various aspects described herein.

For example, FIG. 8A illustrates a graph 800 of a desirable, perfectly sinusoidal, voltage waveform 802 produced as a rotor in an HHP electric generator rotates. The waveform 802 is graphed along voltage axes 804 and rotation position axes (i.e., motor electrical cycle) 806. The perfectly sinusoidal voltage waveform 802 is not achievable using conventional HHP electric generators.

FIG. 8B illustrates a graph 808 of an actual voltage waveform 810 produced as a rotor in a conventional HHP electric generator rotates. The waveform 810 includes harmonic ripples 812 (voltage variations) that can cause losses and heating in the load, armature winding, and rotor, as the rotor rotates. The higher the order and magnitude of the harmonic ripples 812, the greater the losses in the load and armature winding, and the heating in the rotor. These effects can significantly reduce generator performance. Torque waveforms in conventional HHP electric generators include similar effects.

FIG. 9A is a graph 900 of a relatively flat, ideal torque waveform 902 produced during operation of an HHP electric generator.

In contrast, FIG. 9B illustrates a graph 904 depicting harmonic distortions similar to the graph 808 in FIG. 8B. The graph 904 depicts a torque waveform 906 produced in a conventional HHP electric generator. The torque waveform 906 includes an imposition of high order harmonics 908, which can create excessive vibration and noise. These effects also represent considerations in generator bearing design. The harmonics 908, also known as slot-order space harmonics, are caused by the magnetic reluctance variations between slot openings in a stator of a conventional HHP electric generator. The harmonics 908 are often reinforced by a pulse-count of time-harmonic passive rectification switching and are a main contributor to the losses.

By implementing skewing either on the stator 400 or on the rotor 600, the various aspects described herein, reduce or eliminate the harmonic ripples 812 in the armature voltage waveform 810, depicted in FIG. 8B. That is, an armature voltage waveform produced by the stator 400 or the rotor 600 will more closely resemble the pure sinusoidal waveform 802. Similarly, various aspects described herein reduce or eliminate the slot-order space harmonics 908 in the torque waveform 906 depicted in FIG. 9B. By contrast, a torque waveform produced by the stator 400 or the rotor 600 will more closely resemble the substantially flat torque waveform 902 of FIG. 9A.

Alternative embodiments, examples, and modifications which would still be encompassed by the disclosure may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Further, it should be understood that the terminology used to describe the disclosure in intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of various aspects described herein described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for implementing skewing in a rotor assembly for a hybrid homopolar generator comprising: providing a rotor having an axial front rotor and an axial back rotor, separately disposed relative to one another with an inter-rotor space in between, each including a front edge, a back edge, and inductor poles alternating with magnets; aligning the inductor poles within the axial front rotor of the rotor, with corresponding inductor poles within the axial back rotor of the rotor; and skewing the inductor poles by twisting, during assembly, the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor in opposite directions relative to each other thereby twisting the inductor poles in the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor in a direction around a rotor shaft and wherein the twisting forms a pattern that resembles a herringbone shape in respective components of the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor, such that the back edge of the axial front rotor peripherally aligns with the front edge of the back rotor across the inter-rotor space.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the twisting travels by at least one half slot pitch going from a front edge to a back edge.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the twisting travels by one slot pitch.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the axial front rotor is twisted clockwise, and the axial back rotor is twisted counterclockwise.
 5. A method for implementing skewing in a hybrid homopolar electric machine including at least a stator and an armature winding for insertion within the stator and a rotor, the method comprising: providing the rotor having an axial front rotor and an axial back rotor, separately disposed relative to one another with an inter-rotor space in between, each including a front edge, a back edge, and inductor poles alternating with magnets; aligning the inductor poles within the axial front rotor of the rotor with the corresponding inductor poles within the axial back rotor of the rotor; and skewing the inductor poles by twisting during assembly, the axial front rotor in a substantially first direction by a predetermined amount and twisting the axial back rotor in a substantially second direction opposite the substantially first direction by the same predetermined amount; wherein the twisting forms a pattern that resembles a herringbone shape in respective components of the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor, and wherein movement of an un-skewed edge at the back edge of the axial front rotor forms a skewed edge at the front edge of the axial front rotor, and movement of an unskewed edge at the front edge of the axial back rotor forms a skewed edge at the back edge of the axial back rotor, such that the back edge of the axial front rotor peripherally aligns with the front edge of the back rotor across the inter-rotor space.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined amount is a function of relative positioning of the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially first direction is clockwise and the substantially second direction is counterclockwise.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined amount is at least one slot pitch.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the inductor poles are axially shifted by a slot width.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the aligning occurs during assembly of the rotor.
 11. An electric machine including a stator and a rotor, comprising: a separate axial front rotor and an axial back rotor positioned in a predetermined manner which is opposite that of the axial front rotor, wherein the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor are separately disposed relative to one another with an inter-rotor space in between, each include a front edge, a back edge, and inductor poles alternating with magnets; and one or more of the inductor poles of the axial front rotor are positioned relative to one or more of the inductor poles of the axial back rotor based on a characteristic of the stator; wherein skewing of the inductor poles is performed upon twisting, during assembly, the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor in opposite directions relative to each other, thereby twisting the inductor poles within the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor in a direction around a rotor shaft wherein the twisting forms a pattern that resembles a herringbone shape in respective components of the axial front rotor and the axial back rotor, and wherein movement of an un-skewed edge at the back edge of the axial front rotor forms a skewed edge at the front edge of the axial front rotor, and movement of an unskewed edge at the front edge of the axial back rotor forms a skewed edge at the back edge of the axial back rotor, such that the back edge of the axial front rotor peripherally aligns with the front edge of the back rotor across the inter-rotor space.
 12. The electric machine of claim 11, wherein the machine is a hybrid homopolar generator.
 13. The electric machine of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the stator is slot pitch.
 14. The electric machine of claim 11, wherein the one or more inductor poles of axial front rotor are positioned with respect to the one or more inductor poles of the axial back rotor by at least one stator slot pitch.
 15. The electric machine of claim 11, wherein the axial front rotor is twisted in a substantially first direction by a predetermined amount and the axial back rotor in a substantially second direction opposite the substantially first direction by the predetermined amount.
 16. The electric machine of claim 15, wherein the substantially first direction is clockwise and the substantially second direction is counterclockwise.
 17. The electric machine of claim 16, wherein the predetermined amount is at least one slot pitch. 